Panel fence



(No Model.)

T. J. THOMPSON.

PANEL FENCE.

No. 592,456. Patented Oct. 26,1897

WITNESSES INVENTOfi, dam/2M Mg. X d 1% WW I Attorney UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. THOMPSON, OF I-IIGGSTON, GEORGIA.

PANEL FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,456, dated October26, 1897.

Application filed November 21, 1896. Serial'No. 613,004- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Higgston, in the county of Montgomery and State of Georgia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Panel Fences; andI' do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in panelfences, and more particularly in the lock therefor, having for itsobjects, among others, to provide a simple and cheap constructionwhereby the fence may be readily set up in any desired place and readilytaken down for removal or other pur poses and which, when once inposition, will have its panels readily locked.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear,and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisspecification, and in which-- Figure 1 is an elevation of two panelslocked by my improvement. Fig. 2 is a top plan thereof.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout both the views.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates oneof the panels and A the other. The top and bottom rails of each panelare formed with longitudinal slots to a, respectively, and the adjacentends of the panels are provided with interlocking or engaging devices,the ends of the horizontal portions of one panel being extended beyondthe uprights B thereof, as seen at b, and the ends tapered, as seen atI), while the 1ongitudinal rails of the other panel terminate within theuprights G, forming a groove 0 to receive the projecting ends of thelongitudinal rails of the other panel, and one of the uprights istapered, as seen at c, to correspond with the taper of the projectingends of the other panel.

D are the looks or keys, each formed with a bob d at each end, having asquare shoulder d and a tapered portion 01 the said bobs being of a sizeto permit of their ready insertion through the slots of the top andbottom rails of the panels.

In practice the panels are set up and arranged at an angle, theprojecting ends of the one engaging in the groove of the other. The keysor locks are then applied by inserting their bobs through the slots ofthe panels, and after they have been passed through sufficiently for theshoulders thereof to project beyond the adjacent end walls of the slotsthe panels are moved slightly from each other, and the shoulders of thekeys engaging the end walls of the slots and bearing against theopposite sides of the top and bottom rails of the panels firmly locksthe panels in position. To disengage the same, the panels are broughttoward each other until one of the bobs of the keys can be removed fromthe slots. The panels may be disposed at diiferent angles by making thekeys longer or shorter.

WVhat I claim as new is 1. In a panel fence, two panels, one having agroove between its uprights and the other having its longitudinal railsextended beyond its uprights and adapted to enter said groove and to belocked thereto with the panels extending at an angle to each other thesaid extended ends being tapered to fit a corresponding taper on one ofthe uprights at said groove, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

2. The combination with the fence-panels arranged at an angle to eachother and having longitudinal slots, of the locking-keys, having a bobat each end with a square shoul der adapted to enter said slots, andoppositely-disposed inclined portions upon opposite sides of the spacebetween said shoulders, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS J. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

J. H. LONG, O. L. HAMILTON.

